Combined ruler and blotter.



No. 743.119. PATBNTBD Nov. s, 1903.

J. H. WATSON, JB. COMBINED RULBR `AND BLOTTBR.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO. 18, 1902.

N0 MODEL* Patented November 3, 1903.

PATENT OEEICEo JAMES HENRYWATSON, JR., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED RULER AND BLOTTER.

.PEIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,119, dated November 3, 1903.

Application filed December 16. 1902. Serial No. 135.414. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMES HENRY WATSON,-

J r., a citizen of the United States7 residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Ruler and Blotter, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a ruler having means bywhich a strip of blotter may be readily attached thereto or removed therefrom and having a handle placed to be conveniently grasped by the left hand of the operator in position to hold the front edge of the ruler parallel to the plane of the front of the operators person.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is aperspective view of the ruler and blotter. Fig. 2 is a view of alongitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a view of atransverse section of the same.

In the drawings reference character l indicates the plate portion of my device, such plate being preferably formed of a light and non-corrosive metal, such as aluminium. The long edges lor what Iterm the side edges, of such plate are turned downwardly and und er the plate, whereby a longitudinal channel is formed in the under surface of the plate, care being taken to form each bent edge in a straight line to provide ruling edges. Such edges, if desired, may bear marks indicating the subdivisions for'linear measurement. The end portions of .the plate are cut away on each side to form central tongues' 2 and 2, and each tongue is bent upwardly and backwardly or reversely, as shown, to project over along the central upper surface of the plate. A handle 3 is attached to the upper surface of the plate, about midway between its ends, to project upwardly from the plate and from the straight-edge thereof, the axis of such handle making an oblique angle with the straight-edge, so that when the plate is held in front of the operator with the straightedge parallel to the front of the operators body the handle projects rearwardly to the left of the operator in position to be readily grasped by the operators left hand. If desired, the position of the handle may be changed to project toward the operators right hand or to project rearwardly at a right angle to the straight-edge. j

On the under surface of the plate inthe channel formed as above stated is secured a pad 4, of felt or other similar substance. The blotting -strip 5 underlies such pad and is secured in position as follows: One end 5*'L of the strip is inserted between the overlying tongue 2, and the top surface of the plate and the strip is then bent over such tongue, as at 5b, and brought under the pad of felt at 5c. The strip is stretched under vthe pad, and the remaining end of the strip is turned, as at 5d, over the end of the plate and the upwardlyprojecting portion of the .tongue 2 and at 5c over the top of the tongue, and the portion 5f, projecting beyond such tongue, is doubled on itself and tucked under the tongue, the end 5g of the strip projecting outwardly beneath such tuck.

. By unfolding the lateral edges of the rulerplate I am enabled to use a thin sheet metal, to which is thus imparted rigidity and Sunicient iieXibility to conform to the desired extent under pressure by the operator to the surface ruled, thus supplementing the purpose of the pad underneath in causing the blotter-strip to press against every portion of the line ruled.

The pad of felt may be secured in the channel either by an adhesive or by clamping the edges of the pad between the under surface of the plate and the under-turned side edges.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. An article of manufacture comprising a plate having upwardly and reversely7 turned ends, and a blotter-strip securedto such plate by having its ends brought over and tucked under the upwardly and reversely turned ends of the plate.

2. A combined ruler and blotter comprising a plate having inturned edges and upwardly and reversely turned ends, a pad secured between the edges, and a blotting-strip secured below such pad, the ends of such strip being brought over and tucked under the upwardly and reversely turned ends of the plate.

3. A combined ruler and blotter comprising a plate having` inturned side edges and up wardly and reversely turned ends, aV pad secured between the edges of the plate, and a blotter-strip below such pad, one of the ends of such strip being secured to the plate, and the other end of the strip being brought over and tucked under the upwardly and reversely turned end of the plate so that the strip end projects outwardly beneath such tuck.

4. An article of manufacture comprising; a metal plate provided with means whereby a blotting-strip may be attached thereto .and having under-turned lateral edges forming a longitudinal channel in the under surface, and a strip of felt material located in such channel.

5. A combined ruler and blotter comprising a plate having a straight-edge and upwardly and reversely turned ends, a blotter-strip secured to such plate, the ends of the strip being brought over and tucked under the upwardly and reversely turned ends of the plate, and a handle secured to the plate, the handle projecting upwardly from and at an oblique angle to the straigl'it-edge of the plate.

6. An article of manufacture comprising a metal plate provided at its ends with means whereby a blottngstrip may be attached thereto and having under-turned lateral edges forming a longitudinal channel in the under surface, and a strip of felt material located in such channel.

JAMES HENRY VATSON, JR.

'Vitnesses:

H. WV. ST. JOHN, J oHN S. OGILvIE, Jr. 

